County pay drubs households

Top posts can pay 3, 5 or even 9 times the median household income

Manyfold pay for county execs

The median pay for a top administrator of a California county was $200,073 in 2011, or more than three times the state's median household income of $61,632. In several areas, the disparity is much greater. This presentation considers wages only for the administrators, excluding some lucrative benefits, and compares that to median household income, rather than individual. The slides count down to the biggest disparity.

Share

12

San Diego

In 2011, then-top administrator Walt Ekard was paid $313,948, or 4.9 times the median household income of his constituents, according to data from the State Controller's Office. Ekard is shown here announcing his departure last year.

Share

11

Butte County

Chief Administrative Officer Paul Hahn was paid $222,150 in wages in 2011, or 5.2 times the median household income of $42,971 a year, according to 2011 data collected by the state controller.

Imperial County

CEO Ralph Cordova Jr. was paid $207,481 in 2011, according to state controller's data, or 5.3 times the $39,402 median household income.

Share

9

Ventura County

In Ventura County, a typical household earns $76,728 a year. The county paid two county executive officers $407,611, or 5.3 times the median household income, according to 2011 data collected by the state controller. Marty Robinson was succeeded by current County Executive Officer Michael Powers, shown here.

Riverside County

Riverside County paid its top administrator position $312,190 in 2011, or 5.3 times the median household income of $58,365 per year. The position was held by Bill Luna, pictured, through October and Larry Parish after that.

Share

7

San Joaquin County

San Joaquin County paid former County Administrator Manuel Lopez $290,420 in 2011, according to the state controller, or 5.4 times the median household income of $53,764.

Share

6

Stanislaus County

Chief Executive Officer Rick Robinson was paid $282,471 in 2011, according to state controller's data. That's 5.6 times the typical household earnings of $50,671 a year in Stanislaus County.

Share

5

Alameda County

In Alameda, the county paid $423,664 to County Administrator Susan Muranishi, according to 2011 data collected by the state controller. That's six times a typical household income of $70,821 a year.

Share

4

Merced County

In Merced County, a typical household earns $43,945 a year. The county paid 6.3 times that, or $276,590, to its county executive officer and CEO designee in 2011, according to the state controller. Larry T. Combs was succeeded by James L. Brown.

Photo of Brown, left, and Combs: Appeal-Democrat, Merced Sun-Star

Share

3

Solano County

Solano County paid $493,493 to two county administrators in 2011, according to the state controller. Michael Johnson retired in April and was succeeded by Birgitta Corsello, pictured. The pay was 7.1 times the typical household income of $69,914 a year.

Share

2

Los Angeles County

Chief Executive Officer William T. Fujioka was paid $410,899 in 2011, according to the state controller, or 7.3 times the median household income of $56,266 per year.

/ Urban Land InstituteShare

1

San Bernardino County

In 2011, the county paid CEO Greg Devereaux, shown, $331,733. The county was also still paying vacation time to predecessor Mark Uffer, fired in 2009, to the tune of $198,010. The total of $529,743 was 9.5 the median household income of $55,853.